Ruth Marcus | A night of underwhelming performances

8:08 PM,
Oct. 4, 2012

Written by

Ruth Marcus, The Washington Post

WASHINGTON - I was prepared, sorta, kinda, to defend Barack Obama's debate performance until I heard Obama adviser David Axelrod on television preening about how the president had spoken to viewers like adults.

Oh please. If only.

Defense first. Wednesday night's debate posed two risks for Obama. One danger, if the president had come out swinging the way my wrestling-fan colleagues are now clamoring for, was that he would come off as arrogant, snide, dismissive - that he would have another "likable enough" moment. ...